The IPL 2024 Auction was a one-day affair, on Tuesday, December 19, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. Not only it was the first time an IPL auction was slated outside India, but it also included fans in the arena.
It was a thoroughly entertaining auction as Pat Cummins (INR 20.5 crore) and Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 crore) broke the highest purchase in IPL history record. Starc has now become the most expensive player ever in IPL history when KKR roped him in for 24.75 crore.
Most of the 10 IPL franchises would be satisfied with their purchases by the end of the IPL 2024 auction as they got the players or category of players they had wanted at the start of the day. However, one might say in some cases the franchises overpaid for some players.
Here are 3 worst buys of the IPL 2024 auction:
Pat Cummins – 20.5 crore by SRH
Only SRH knows what they were thinking with the buy of Pat Cummins, and at one point, by the end of the bidding war with RCB, it felt like an ego tussle. SRH now have overseas players Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Fazahaq Farooqi, Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Pat Cummins – all of them are first-choice players. Plus, Cummins is a world-class pacer in ODIs and Tests; Cummins leaked at an economy rate of over 10 in 2022. Instead, SRH could have easily used this money to buy another cheaper, backup overseas pacer or pick Indian backup batters.
Yash Dayal – 5 crore by RCB
At the start of every season, RCB fans at least expect something from their side. This time, their hopes of a trophy already seem to go up in smoke by looking at their bowling attack, which looks even weaker than last season. They bought Yash Dayal for 5 crore. Dayal, who was smashed for 5 sixes in 5 balls by Rinku Singh, has seen his career and stocks spiral down with Gujarat Titans releasing him. He had an economy of 10 last season, which is only likely to get worse at the Chinnaswamy.
Spencer Johnson – 10 crore by GT
During his injury-riddled phase, Spencer Johnson might have contemplated even giving up fast bowling and cricket. But he bounced back well. But so well that GT decided to spalsh 10 crore on him? In 20 T20 matches, Spencer is averaging 30 – which is quite ordinary – with only one notable performance in The Hundred this year.
GT had pulled out at 24.5 crore in the race for Starc. They would have been better off going harder after Starc, as they still had enough funds, rather than splurge 10 crore on Spencer Johnson.
